Collapsible container and method therefor

ABSTRACT

A collapsible storage container has a collapsible body section for storing a liquid. A dispensing assembly is coupled to the collapsible bottle for preventing leakage of the liquid while allowing for the passage of the liquid stored within the collapsible body section to be dispensed out by pressing down and collapsing a portion of the collapsible body section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a container, and more specifically, to a dispensing container that collapses and expands to accommodate the amount of liquid contained within it.

2. Background of the Invention

Many individuals have containers for storing any type of drink or other types of liquids. Most containers for storing liquids are formed in a predetermined non-adjustable size. The size of the container cannot be adjusted despite how much or how little liquid is contained within them. A problem arises when the container is not full in that the container still occupies the same amount of storage space as a full bottle would.

Several attempts have been made to solve the above problem. Some of these attempts are listed below.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,936 illustrates a collapsible liquid container with a flexible fluid container that expands and collapses according to how much liquid is contained within it. However, this flexible fluid container is housed within the dispenser body. The problem with this is that while the flexible fluid container may collapse when it is emptied, the overall size of the liquid container remains the same.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,957,316 describes a valved bottle cap. One embodiment of the cap consists of an outer cap body and an inner cap body. The cap is secured to the bottle by a pair of guide sleeves that interlock with the grooves of the central tube. Although this may secure the cap to the water bottle, repeated application and removal of the cap could cause the guide sleeves to break. Once the guide sleeves are broken, the cap would not stay in place and would no longer be functional.

Therefore, a need existed to provide an improve storage and dispensing container. The improved storage and dispensing container will be adjustable in size. The improved storage and dispensing container must be able to change its size in order to accommodate the amount of liquid contained within it while occupying no more storage space than necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved storage and dispensing container It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved storage and dispensing container that is adjustable in size.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved storage and dispensing container that may change sizes in order to accommodate the amount of liquid contained within it so as to take up no more storage space than necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a collapsible storage container is disclosed. The collapsible storage container has a collapsible body section for storing a liquid. A dispensing assembly is coupled to the collapsible bottle. The dispensing assembly is used for preventing leakage of the liquid while allowing for the passage of the liquid stored within the collapsible body section to be dispensed out by pressing down and collapsing a portion of the collapsible body section.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by the following detailed description of illustrated embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals and symbols represent like elements.

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of one embodiment of the collapsible storage container of the present.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the collapsible storage container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the plurality of ridges on the body portion of the collapsible storage container taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the collapsible storage container of the present invention with another embodiment of the cap assembly.

FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the collapsible storage container of the present invention with another embodiment of the cap assembly.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cap assembly of FIG. 5 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an elevated perspective view of another embodiment of the collapsible storage container of the present.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the collapsible storage container of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an elevated perspective view of the collapsible storage container of FIG. 7 in a fully collapsed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the FIGS. 1-3 wherein like numerals and symbols represent like elements, a collapsible storage container 10 is shown. The collapsible storage container 10 is used to store any kind of liquid. As the amount of liquid contained within the collapsible storage container 10 increases or decreases, the collapsible storage container 10 can be expanded or collapsed accordingly. Thus, the collapsible storage container 10 will not occupy any more storage space than necessary.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the collapsible storage container 10 is comprised of a main body section 20 and a cap assembly 30. The main body section 20 has an opening portion 21 and a collapsible body portion 22. On the collapsible body portion 22 exists a plurality of flexible ridges 23. The flexible ridges 23 allow the collapsible body portion 22 to expand and collapse to accommodate the amount of liquid contained within it. A gripping edge 24 on the collapsible body portion 22 may also be present. The gripping edge 24 is used to help provide an individual with a firm grasp on the collapsible body portion 22 while expanding and collapsing it.

A date indicator 25 may be placed on the collapsible body portion 22 of the main body section 20. The date indicator 25 will provide an area to denote the freshness of the liquid contained within the collapsible storage container 10. When a liquid is placed in the collapsible storage container 10, one can denote the date on the date indicator 25.

A plurality of lettering 27 may also be present on the collapsible body portion 22 of the main body section 20. The plurality of lettering 27 will serve as a volume indicator that will denote the amount of liquid contained within the main body section 20. The plurality of lettering 27 functions in the following manner. When the flexible ridges 23 are compressed, the lettering 27 on the side of the collapsible body section 20 will come together and display a message indicating the amount of liquid stored within the collapsible body section 20 (i.e., ¾ full, ½ full, 14 full, etc).

An attachment device is used to couple the cap assembly 30 to the main body section 20. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, one or more spiraled ridges 29 are present on the opening portion 21 of the main body section 20. The spiraled ridges 29 are used to allow the cap assembly 30 to be snapped or screwed on and attached to the main body section 20.

The cap assembly 30 has a cap component 31, an opening 33 in the cap component 31 for allowing the passage of air and liquid, and a stopper component 34. The cap component 31 has one or more spiraled ridges 32. The spiraled ridges 32 of the cap component engage the spiraled ridges 29 on the opening portion 21. This will allow for the snapping or screwing on and attaching of the cap assembly 30 to the main body section 20. The stopper component 34 is coupled to the cap component 31 so as to prevent loss of the stopper component 34 when the cap assembly 30 is in the open position. The stopper component 34 is inserted into the hole 33 to prevent the passage of air and liquid.

Referring to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the cap assembly 40 is shown. The cap assembly is designated 40 to indicate a different embodiment. The cap assembly 40 comprises a cap component 41, a stopper component 44, and a flexible flap 45 that traverses the opening portion 21 of the main body section 20 to help regulate the flow of air and water. The cap component 41 has a plurality of spiraled ridges 42 that engage the spiraled ridges 29 on the opening portion 21 for screwing on and attaching the cap assembly 40 to the main body section 20. The stopper component 44 has at least one ridge 46 and the hole 43 has at least one groove 47 to anchor the stopper component 44 into the hole 43 thus preventing loss of the stopper component 44 while the cap assembly 41 is in an open position.

When the main body section 20 is expanded or collapsed, the air passes through the hole 43. By applying pressure to the cap assembly 40, the flexible flap 45 that traverses the opening portion 21 of the main body section 20 will be lowered in order to allow air to escape out of the opening 21 and through the hole 43. When pressure is released from the cap assembly 40, the flexible flap 45 will close thereby preventing air and liquid from escaping.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the cap assembly 50. The cap assembly 50 has a cap component 51, a hole 53, and a buoyant stopper component 54 fitting within the cap component 51. The cap component 51 has a plurality of spiraled ridges 52 that engage the spiraled ridges 29 on the opening portion 21 thereby screwing on and attaching the cap assembly 50 to the main body section 20.

The buoyant stopper component 54 has a small lower flat portion 55 fitting within the opening portion 21 of the main body section 20. This small lower flat portion 55 is coupled to a large upper flat portion 56. The large upper flat portion 55 is larger than the opening portion 21 of the collapsible bottle 20 so as to prevent the entire buoyant stopper component 54 from sliding down into the body portion 22 of the collapsible bottle 20. A small space exists between the small lower flat portion 55 and the opening portion 21 of the main body section 20 and also between the large upper flat portion 55 and the cap component 51 to allow for the passage of air. When the main body section 20 is gently compressed, air will be allowed to flow out of the small space exists between the small lower flat portion 55 and the opening portion 21. However, once the liquid in the collapsible body portion 22 pushes upward against the small lower flat portion 55, the large upper flat portion 56 overlaps the hole 53 in the cap component 51 thereby blocking it and preventing the passage of air and liquid out of the collapsible beverage container.

Referring to FIGS. 7-9, another embodiment of the collapsible storage container 10 is shown. In this embodiment, the collapsible storage container 10 is comprised of a main body section 20 and a dispensing mechanism 60. The main body section 20 has an opening portion 21 and a collapsible body portion 22. On the collapsible body portion 22 exists a plurality of flexible ridges 23. The flexible ridges 23 allow the collapsible body portion 22 to expand and collapse to accommodate the amount of liquid contained within it.

An attachment device is used to couple the dispensing mechanism 60 to the main body section 20. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, one or more spiraled ridges are present on the opening portion 21 of the main body section 20. The spiraled ridges are used to allow the dispensing mechanism 60 to be snapped or screwed on and attached to the main body section 20.

The dispensing mechanism 60 has a cap component 62 for securing the dispensing mechanism to the main body section 20, and a dispensing tube 64 in fluid communication with the cap component 62 for allowing the passage of air and liquid out of the dispensing mechanism. The cap component 62 may have one or more spiraled ridges. The spiraled ridges of the cap component engage spiraled ridges on the opening portion 21. This will allow for the snapping or screwing on and attaching of the dispensing mechanism 60 to the main body section 20.

It should be noted that the body section 20 may contain elements previously discussed. For example, the body section 20 may contain a gripping device to allow one to better hold the body section 20. The body section 20 may further have a volume indication printed on the side of the body section.

In order to dispense the liquid contained within the collapsible storage container 10, one simply presses down on the collapsible storage container 10 or the dispensing mechanism 60 as shown in FIG. 9. The liquid stored within the collapsible storage container 10 will be dispensed out through the dispensing tube 64 of the cap component 62.

It is the intention that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structures, materials, or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later-developed equivalent structures, materials, or acts for performing the claimed function. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form or details may be made therein without departing from the spirit of and the scope of the invention. 

1. A collapsible storage container comprising: a collapsible body section for storing a liquid, and a dispensing assembly coupled to the collapsible bottle for preventing leakage of the liquid while allowing for the passage of the liquid stored within the collapsible body section to be dispensed out by pressing down and collapsing a portion of the collapsible body section.
 2. A collapsible storage container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the collapsible body section comprises: an opening portion for dispensing the liquid; and a body portion for containing the liquid wherein the body portion has a plurality of flexible ridges to allow the body portion to expand and collapse to accommodate the amount of liquid contained within the body portion.
 3. A collapsible liquid container in accordance with claim 1 wherein the cap assembly comprises: a cap component removeably coupled to an opening portion of the collapsible body section; a hole in the cap component for the passage of air and liquid; and a dispensing tube coupled to the hole in the cap component.
 4. A collapsible storage container comprising: a collapsible body section for storing a liquid wherein the collapsible body section comprises: an opening portion for dispensing the liquid; and a body portion for containing the liquid wherein the body portion has a plurality of flexible ridges to allow the body portion to expand and collapse to accommodate the amount of liquid contained within the body portion, and a dispensing assembly coupled to the collapsible bottle for preventing leakage of the liquid while allowing for the passage of the liquid stored within the collapsible body section to be dispensed out by pressing down and collapsing a portion of the collapsible body section wherein the cap assembly comprises: a cap component removeably coupled to the opening portion of the collapsible body section; a hole in the cap component for the passage of air and liquid; and a dispensing tube coupled to the hole in the cap component. 